~Chapter 5- Why waste time?~

There was no sign of any way out, and the cold was beginning to affect the boys. Cook was unaffected by the cold but was afraid for different reasons. Starvation and dehydration mainly. Cook procured a flame to help keep the boys warm, figuring that his best chance of escaping was with their help.

Aero was thankful that he had Hopper wait outside of the cave, otherwise, he'd be trapped in here with him, or worse. But, he was scared too. Scared that he may not get out. That he wouldn't see his family or friends again. That he wouldn't see Oopa again.

If he did make it back, Aero still wasn't sure what he'd do. But, he wasn't alone. As strange as an idea it was, maybe Cook or the Masked Boy could help him. It couldn't hurt, could it?

The Masked One was running his hand along the periphery of the cave, looking for a weak point, "I have to get out," He muttered, "Too many are counting on me."

Aero figured he might as well ask, "Mind if I ask you a question?"

"Depends."

"It's about a girl."

The Masked Boy glanced at Aero, "I mean, I'll listen."

"Alright, there's a girl from the village I'm staying at and we've been seeing each other for a while. Before I came here, her dad suggested we get married, and I'm not sure what I should do."

"You're a little young to get married, aren't you?" Cook pointed out.

"That's what I thought! But I should make up my mind by the time I get back."

The Masked One groaned as he patted down part of a wall, "You Ralosians are so fickle."

"You're Ralosian too."

"I don't see it that way. Where I'm from, any day could be your last. You couldn't afford to waste time. But in the Lands of Ralosia, people will waste years of their lives making up their minds, as if they're going to live forever."

Cook puffed out his chest, "Don't get married. Why would you settle for a single woman?"

Aero didn't like the idea of being with many girls. He knew Oopa wouldn't like that either.

"I think there are two simple questions you should ask yourself," The Masked One asked, "Do you like this girl?"

"Yeah."

"Do you see that changing?"

"No."

"Then what's your problem? The answer is obvious," The Masked boy said, "We could die in here. Why waste time?"

When he said it like that, it seemed obvious to Aero, "Thanks!"

The Masked One nodded.

There was still no clear sign of a way out. The walls seemed solid, and the risk of a cave-in dissuaded them from breaking their way out. But they had to do something soon or risk freezing.

A high-pitched noise reverberated through the cave and the three stopped.

"What is that?" Cook whipped his head around.

Aero listened carefully as the noise came again, "Hopper!"

He listened closely, trying to find the focal point of the high-pitched bark, following the noise before finding a corner of the cave. Aero increased the size of his focus light and noticed cracks in the wall which the sound came through, "I can hear my dog through here. This wall must be thinner than the rest."

"Let me see," The Masked Boy pointed his finger at the wall, and a continuous beam of purple light struck it and drilled through the wall. Eventually, the beam broke through and light streamed through the small hole. Hopper's barking sounded more clearly from outside, "Okay... we can break through this. But the cave might collapse the moment we do."

"It's the best shot we have. We'll strike the wall as hard as we can with Focus, then make a break for it," Aero said. He knelt next to the hole, "Hopper! Step back buddy! We're coming!"

Aero and the boy readied themselves, "On three."

"One."

"Two."

"Three!"

Both of the boys extended their fists. Vibrant red and purple light burst forward, completely obliterating the rock wall before them and sending tremors through the mountain. Stalactites began to fall, and the three rushed forward as the caverns collapsed around them. The Masked One gripped both Aero and Cook's wrists and flew into the air with them. A large piece of debris fell from above, but the Masked Boy skillfully circled around it before flying out of the cave.

The sky was black and snow swirled around them. Hopper barked furiously at the noise of the cave falling in on itself. The Masked One drifted to the ground and released Cook and Aero.

Hopper rushed to Aero, and the great Chihuahua knocked him over and began to lick him, "I'm okay, buddy! I'm okay!"

Cook backed away from them in hopes that he might escape. But the Masked Boy simply placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't."

Cook flexed his arm, and it began to burn red. He swung wildly and missed. The boy countered with a strike to his forehead, knocking him out. Aero rushed to cuff Cook and threw him over Hopper's back.

Aero figured that it'd take less than an hour to get to the prison and a few more hours to get out of the Ichino region. It'd be a late night, but it'd be worth it to get out of the cold. Aero looked at the Masked Boy, "Thanks for your help in there."

"Don't mention it."

The two stared at one another in silence for a moment.

"What're you going to do now?" Aero asked.

"Well, I was considering trying to fight you for that orb again, but I'm not certain I'd win. I probably would, but I don't want to chance it. Especially with the cold," The Masked Boy said, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to give it to me?"

Aero reached into his pocket and felt the orb there, "I don't think so. I appreciate your help in getting out, but I still don't trust you."

"Figures. See you around," The boy floated off the ground before shooting through the air and disappearing from Aero's sight.

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Aero escorted Cook personally to the prison before departing south for the nearest inn, using the money he was given to pay for it. He was restless that night in anticipation of returning to Oopa.

Dawn came, and Aero rushed back to Lupine Lake. Back home. The sun was still low in the sky when he returned. He took Hopper to its cave so it could rest before he searched for Oopa. He found her alone at the lakeside. He circled behind her and wrapped his arms around her, not caring who might see.

"I missed you," Aero said while hugging her.

"You weren't gone for very long," Oopa remarked, still a little dreary from before.

"Still. I got to think a lot while I was gone," Aero sat beside her and looked into her brown eyes, "There's no else I'd rather be with than you. I don't think that's ever going to change either."

Oopa's face brightened up, "What're you saying?"

"I want to be promised to each other," Aero said, "If you want to, that is."

"Are you sure?" Oopa looked like she could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Aero smiled, "No doubt in my mind."

Oopa couldn't help but blush and smile. She nodded emphatically before leaning in to kiss Aero, unafraid of anyone seeing them.

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~Thanks for reading~

Hope you enjoyed this story! I'd actually like to hear what people think of how this one ended. With Aero and Oopa and the growing presence of the Masked One.

The story is followed by the

The Lands of Ralosia: The Comet Tournament

A story that follows this one well is

The Lands of Ranuulo: Webs of the Arachna